Tool for applying seal caps



Julyao, 1940. J. w. @HERA 2,209,851

TQL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS Filed July 1, 1956 2 Shaets-Shet l ZI-Z/e?for: 7725726720.

J- W. SHERA MNO. 1940.

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JMJ/3.

Patented July 30, 1940 v 'rooL ron ArrLnNG SEAL cars John w. snera,chicago, nl., assigner t Amencan Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of Illinois Application July 1, 1936, SerialNo. 88,308

8 Claims. (0l. 113-18) lily invention relates to a tool for applyingseal caps, and it has to do particularly with a tool of the foregoingcharacter adapted for applying seal caps over the beaded end of a flangeor neck dening an opening in the wall ofthe container.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved tool forapplying seal caps.

Another object is to provide a tool of the foregoing character which isso constructed that the actuating pressure required to contract theskirt of the seal cap over and behind the beaded end of the closure neckor ange is materially reduced, whereby the cap may be securely appliedin sealtight fashion without distorting the closure strucl5 ture or thecontainer wall.

' A further object is to provide a toolfor applying seal caps whichincludes but few parts, which parts are so constructed and arranged thatwear is reduced to the minimum and ease in operation I is assured.

Still another object is to provide a tool embodying the foregoingfeatures which is simple 1n construction, is strong and durable, may beassembled and disassembled easily and quickly, and

u which is substantially foolproof in operation,

whereby the ordinary unskilled workman may apply suessive seal caps in auniform seal-tight fashion.

o A more specific object is to provide a tool of the foregoing characterwhich comprises an improved jaw unit including a disk-like supportingmember and a plurality of annularly disposed arcuate jaw memberssupported thereby and adapted to engage and contract the skirt of theseal cap, the arrangement being such that the jaw members have aline-contact engagement with the supporting disk substantiallythroughout their width and about which they rock in their con- 40tracting and expanding movements.

Other objects and advantages, some of which,

lie in the form and relationship of the tool parts, will become apparentas this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein-4,5 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of tool embodyingmy invention, the tool being shown in its expanded form ready forsecuring a seal cap in place;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially 50 on line 2--2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken at substantially rightangles to Fig. 1, and the tool is shown with its parts in contractedcondition with a seal cap secured in place;

I5 Fig. 4 is a detached, perspective view of one of the'jaw members of.the-jaw unit shown in the previous gures;`

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section taken substantially on line 5-5of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental section taken 5 substantially on line6-6 of Fig. 1.

The tool shown in the drawings is well adapted for applying seal caps tothe fllling and/or discharge openingsof containers used for shipping andstoring gasoline, oil, and -the like, products. 10 It is to beunderstood, however, that tools embodying my invention have utility inany other insance Where similar conditions of use are to be me Withparticular refernce to the drawings, the container illustrated includesa comparatively thin wall I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a circular andoutwardly-extending ange I6 defining a fill and/or discharge opening. Aninternally threaded bushing I'I (Fig. 1) is mounted within the 20 flangeI6 and its outer end is turned over and upon the outer edge of the angeI6 providing a bead I8 thereat. A closure plug (not shown) is usuallyscrewed into the bushing I1 for primarily closing and sealing theopening. The closure structure just described is further closed andsealed, so as to guard against leakage and undetectable tampering, by acap I9 having a skirt portion I9 contracted over the bead I8 and uponthe iiange I6 therebehind. It is essential, in ap- 3o plying the sealcap I9, that distortion of the container wall I5 and the closurestructure as a whole be avoided, otherwise leakage may occur.

My invention takes care -of the condition last stated by providing animproved Itool which is adapted to apply the seal cap without theexertion of pressure in axial direction suflicient to `cause distortionof the thin-walled parts, the arrangement of the tool parts being suchthat the operating pressure required to contract the skirt I9 of the capis materially reduced below that required in tools heretofore employed.This reduction in operating pressure is brought about by reducing to aminimum the contact between the mounting means of the jaws and the bodymem- -ber of the tool. In this manner friction and i unit 2|, and-whichwith the jaw unit is confined against axial displacement by an enlargedhead 25 on'the lower end of the body member 2|) and a detachable springring 26 mounted in a suitably provided groove in the body member 20. Thebody member 20 further supports a handlemounting member 21 to which theinner ends of handles 28 are pivotally connected by pins 28a. The innerends of thehandles 28, adjacent the pivot pins 28a, are also connectedto the jaw-operating member 23 by suitably provided links 29 and 30 sothat downward movement of the outer ends of the handles 28 will resultin downward movement of the jaw-operating member 23 and, in turn,contraction of the jaw members 22. Raising of the handles 28 will raisethe jaw-operating member 23 and permit expansion of the jaw members 22in a manner'that will become obvious hereinafter. .The handles 28, theirmode of support by the body member 20, and their manner of connectionwith the jaw-operating member 23 are fully disclosed in my prior PatentNo. 2,034,776, granted on March 24, 1936, and it will, therefore, beunnecessary to further describe the same in detail herein.

The jaw unit 2| and the parts thereof are so constructed' and arrangedthat the pressure required to move the jaw members 22 inwardly to fullycontract the-skirt I9a of the seal cap (Fig. 3) is reduced to theminimum. This feature not only avoids distortion of the container wallI5 and the closure structure as a whole, but it also reduces wear sothat the tool will serve its purpose efficiently over a long period oftime. Specically, the jaw unit 2| (Figs. 1` and 3) includes a disk-likemember 3| rotatably supported by the body member 20, between thecentering head 24 and spring ring 26 and having an annular groove 3|a ofsubstantially rectangular shape in cross section in its peripheral edge.The disk 3| supports the jaw members 22 each of which is of identicalsize and is of transverse arcuate shape with its side edges taperingradially inward so that when all of the jaw members 22 are arranged inannular fashion and contracted they will fit snugly together along theirside edges forming a substantially complete circle.

The jaw members 22 are supported by the disk 3| in the following manner(Figs. l, 3 6): Each of the jaw members 22 has a lower or skirt portion22a. The upper boundary of the skirt portion is established by achord-like land or ledge 32 which projects inwardly from the innersurface of the body member and extends substantially throughout thewidth of the same. This ledge 32 is of such Width that it is adapted tofit rather snugly within ythe peripheral disk groove 3|a and the lowerprojecting corner 33 of this ledge (Fig. 4) is squared away in such amanner that it engages the lower side 3|b of the disk groove 3|@ along aline contact 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) extending substantially tangentially tothe bottom 3|c of the groove 3|EL (Figs. 1, 5 and 6). The upper edge ofthe ledge 32 is counter-cut as at 35 and the disk 3| above the groove 3Ia is reduced in diameter so that the upper end of the jaw member (abovethe groove 3 la) may rock inwardly toward the disk 3| even though theledge 32 may fit rather snugly within the groove 3Ia.

The upper ends of the jaw members 22 are urged radially inward and theyare also normally held pressed together incircumferential direction as aself-contained unit by a spring ring 36 conned in a groove 31 in theouter upper end portions of the jaw members. The spring ring 36 alsoholds the jaw member ledges 32 engaged within the disk groove 3| withthe lower outer corners of the ledges 32 engaging the lower side of thegroove along the line contact 34 about porting member 21 upon thethreaded end 39 of the body member 20, and this uppermost position ispreferably such that the bell member 23 determines the extent ofexpansion of the jaw members, independently of any stopping actionafforded by the engagement with each other of the upper ends of the jawmembers 22 when the skirt portions 22a thereof are in their fullyexpanded condition. In this Way, the limit of expansion of the tool maybe definitely fixed and slight manufacturing variations'in the jawmembers and associated parts will not affect the operation of the tool.

The lower or jaw ends 38 of the jaw members 22 are provided withinwardly-extending ledges 40 providing jaw faces adapted, uponcontraction of the jaws, to engage the side wall or skirt I9a of theseal cap I9. The tool as a whole is centered in the proper position uponthe cap I9 by the centering head 24 which is provided with a squared rimportion 4I adapted to seat upon the peripheral edge portion of the capI9, which peripheral edge portion may, in some cases (as shown), beoffset.

In the operation of the tool, the seal cap I9 .is rst applied over theclosure structure, preferably, with a gasket 42 (Fig. l) disposedbetween its inner peripheral edge portion and the top of the bead I8.The tool is then placed in the position shown in Fig. l, and the outerends of the handles 28 are moved downwardly, in turn moving the member23 downwardly causing the jaw members 22 to rock about their linecontacts 34 and move the lower or jaw faces 40 vof the jaw members 22inwardly to engage and contract the skirt I9L of the cap I9 as shown inFig. 3. Due to the fact that the jaw members 22 rock about a linecontact with a minimum of friction, the pressure required to move thehandles 28 downward and contract the cap skirt is materially reduced.The line contact 34 may shift very slightly during this action, but, ifso, the action is negligible so' far as the foregoing results areconcerned. As the jaw members 22 are simultaneously rocked andcontracted to similar extent by the member 23, the lower ends of the jawmembers move together with a uniform circumferential contractingmovement and, in their finally contracted position (Fig. 3), the loweredges of the jaw members substantially abut each other at their sides.In this operation the skirt of the seal cap I9 is completely anduniformly contracted over and behind the bead I8 and the cap I9 isdepressed and secured in such a way as to provide a closure which is notonly air and liquid-tight, but it is also proof against undetectabletampering.

When the cap I9 is fully applied, the handles 28 -76 bers to theposition of Fig. 1.

It is'believed that the vobjects and advantages' et my invention aboveilrst stated will be obvious from the foregoing description. The tool isquite f simple inconstruction and it is composed of a minimum number ofparts which may be con- -structed quite inexpensively. A tool embodyingmy invention is substantially foolproof and may be operated even by'unskilled workmen without danger of distorting the container wallwhich, if it should occur, vmight result in leakage.

It is to be understood that, although I have shown only one form of toolembodying my invention, other changes in details and arrangements ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit'and scope ofmy invention as dened by the claims that follow.

I claim:`

1. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supportingmember thereon, a plurality of jaw members, means providing a-linecontact engagement between said supporting member and said jaw membersand about which said jaw members rock for expansion and contractionmovements, means engaging said jaw members on one side of saidline'contact means and constantly tending to expand said jaw members,and means engaging said jaw members on the other side of said linecontact means and operable to contract said jaw members in opposition tosaid first means.

2. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supportingdisk carried by said body, a plurality of jaw members of transversearcuate shape annularly fitted around the periphery of said disk,line-contact means between each of said jaw members and said disk andabout which said jaw members rock in expanding and contracting, meansconstantly tending to expand said jaw members, and means carried by saidbody and operable to contract said jaw members in opposition to saidexpanding means.

3. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a circular jawsupporting member carried by said body member, a plurality of jawmembers each having a skirt portion of transverse arcuate shape ttingaround the periphery of said jaw supporting member, means for supportingsaid jaw lmembers on said jaw supporting member including a lateralchord-like element on each said jaw member having a straight edgeadapted to engage said supporting member along a line contact aboutwhich said jaw members rock, spring means engaging said jaw membersconstantly urging said skirt portions about said line contact toward anexpanded position, and means carried by said body member for contractingsaid skirt portions in opposition to said spring means.

4. In a tool of the class described, a body member, a jaw supportingdisk carried by said body member and having a continuouseircumferentialgroove in its peripheral edge, a plurality of jaw members each having askirt portion of transverse arcuate shape annularly arranged around saiddisk with each of said jaw members having a chord-like land or ledge ofrectangular shape in cross-section extending substantially throughoutthe width of the jaw member and received within said disk groove, saidledge having a squared corner adapted to engage one of the surfaces ofsaid groove along a line contact about which said jaw members rock inexpanding and contracting, means engaging said jaw members on one sideof said line contact and constantly tending to expand said jaw members,and means yengaging said jaw members on theother side of said linecontact and operable to contract saidl jaw members in opposition to saidspring means.

5. In atool for applying seal caps, a body member; a disk-shaped jawsupporting member carried by said body member; a plurality of Jawmembers of arcuate shape transversely of their i length; means formounting said jaw members on said disk-shaped member, with a partthereof projecting above said disk-shaped member, and including achord-like land or ledge of rectangular cross-section intermediate theends of each said jaw member, a continuous and rectangularly-shapedgroove in the peripheral edge of said disk-shaped member in which saidchord-like. ledge is received, and ,spring means engaging I said partsof said jaw members above said diskshaped member and tending to rocksaid jawv members upon their said ledges in expanding direction; andmeans carried bysaid body member and operable to move said jaw membersin contracting direction.

6. In a tool for applying seal caps, a body memf ber, a disk-shapedmember carried by said body member and having a, continuousrectangularlyshaped groove in its peripheral edge, a-plurality of jawmembers of arcuate shape transversely of their length and each having atransverse chordlike element intermediate its ends entering said vgroove and engaging a side surface thereof along a line contact, saidchord-like element projecting from said jaw member suiciently for it toenter and engage said groove substantially throughout the entire widthof each of the jaw members, spring means engagingsaid jaw members at oneend and constantly urging said jaw members in expanding direction aboutsaid line contact, said groove-and-element relationship together withAsaid spring means serving to hold said diskshaped member and jaw membersassembled as a self-contained unit independently of other supportingdevices, and means carried by said body member and operable to move saidjaw members about said line-contact in contracting direction.

7. In a tool for applying seal caps, a body member, a disk-shaped membercarried by said body member and having a continuous groove in itsperipheraledge, a plurality of jaw members of arcuate shapetransversely, each of said jaw members having a chord-like ledgeextending substantially throughout the width of the jaw members andreceived in said groove in substantially -tangential relation to thebottom of the latter, said i ledge having its lower corner squared sothat its lower corner engages the lower side wall of said groove alonga, line contact about which said jaw member rocks in expanding andcontracting movements of its lower end, means Aengaging the upper endsof said jaw members and tending to 'rock the Alower ends of said jawmembers about that its lower corner engages the lower side wall 7K5means and groove-and-ledge relationship serving to hold said jaw membersoperatively connected to said disk-shaped member, and means engagingsaid Jaw members below their said line contacts and operable to rocksaid Jaw members 5 about their line contacts in a contracting direction.

JOHN W.. SHERA.

